Memorial Medical Milestones 2021, Issue 2

memorial

Medical Milestones 2021 • Issue 2

Joseph Semien, MD

Gisele McKinney, MD

David McAlpine, MD

Bradley Forsyth, MD

Armand Grimshaw, MD David Darbonne, MD

Norman Stewart, MD

William Groves, MD

Matthew Scroggs, MD

Memorial Hospital for Women

COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Now Available at Home The monoclonal antibody infusion used to treat COVID-19 in high risk patients is now available through Lake Charles Memorial Home Health. Patients who qualify can receive the infusion in the convenience of their home. This service is currently offered Monday through Friday.

Patients will need to meet a qualification of being high-risk such as age, pregnancy and/or a chronic health condition. If they do qualify, a registered nurse will come to their home, administer the infusion and monitor the patient for one hour post infusion.

Patients do not need to meet home health criteria, nor will they be admitted to home health services. Any insurance policy will be accepted, and there will be no out-of-pocket expenses for the patient.

Patients are encouraged to discuss this option with their physician once they receive a COVID-19 diagnosis. Call 337.494.6444 for more information and assistance in getting an order from their physician. Physicians can fax an order form, positive COVID-19 diagnosis and demographics to 337.494.6451.

covid-19 vaccines available Memorial offers both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines to the public.

No Cost. No Appointment Necessary.

Located in the Memorial Hospital Atrium at 1701 Oak Park Boulevard.

Monday – 9am to Noon Tuesday – 9am to Noon Wednesday – 7am to 3pm Thursday – 9am to Noon Friday – 8am to 4pm

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memorial

Medical Milestones Foundation News 4 Event changes and your dollars at work

Meds to Beds

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Sex talk for the latter years

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New pharmacy program

Unique Healthcare for Women

Keeping the Passion Alive

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How Memorial for Women is evolving

Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man 10 Meet Ben and Kira Groves, DOs

Lake Charles Memorial Health System and its related entities comply with applicable FederalGroup civil rights laws and does Memorial Medical 14 not discriminate thelocations basis of race, color, national origin, age, New faceson and disability, or sex.

OBCharles Care 16 Lake Memorial Health System respecte les lois fédérales on care,aux notdroits cost civiques et ne pratique aucune enFocusing vigueur relatives discrimination basée sur la race, la couleur de peau, l'origine nationale, l'âge, le sexe ou un handicap.

COVID Talk 18 Answers to vaccine FAQs

Lake Charles Memorial Health System cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System tuân th lu t dân quy n hi n hành c a Liên bang và không phân bi t i x d a trên tu i, khuy t t t, ho c ch ng t c, màu da, ngu n g c qu c gia, gi i tính.

Patient Non-Discrimination:

Language Assistance:

Lake Charles Memorial Health System and its related entities comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System offers language translation service free of charge to our patients and families, as well as assistance for those with visual or hearing impairments. Our House Supervisor can assist in connecting patients and families with assistance. Call 1-337-480-8430.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System respecte les lois fédérales en vigueur relatives aux droits civiques et ne pratique aucune discrimination basée sur la race, la couleur de peau, l'origine nationale, l'âge, le sexe ou un handicap.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System tuân th lu t dân quy n hi n hành c a Liên bang và không phân bi t i x d a trên tu i, khuy t t t, ho c ch ng t c, màu da, ngu n g c qu c gia, gi i tính.

Lake Charles Memorial Health System offers language translation service free of charge to our patients and families, as well as 3 assistance for those with visual or hearing impairments. Our

ATTENTION : Si vous parlez français, des services d'aide Page 10 linguistique vous sont proposés gratuitement. Appelez le 1-337480-8430.

ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-337-480-8430.

CHÚ : N u b n nói Ti ng Vi t, có các d ch v h tr ngôn ng mi n phí dành cho b n. G i s 1-337-480-8430.

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

Pay It Forward On August 27, 2020, Louisiana was hit by Hurricane Laura, followed six weeks later by Hurricane Delta. Lake Charles Memorial Health System was devastated with damages. Remarkably, over $380,000 was donated by people and businesses to assist Memorial’s employees who experienced damage to their homes, autos and lives.

Now, almost a year to the day, Terrebonne General Health System is experiencing the same devastation from hurricane ida. The hospital has been shut down without power and water. Patients have been relocated, and employees are reeling to recover personally.

“As a means to “pay it forward”, the Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial initiated a fundraiser to assist the employees at Terrebonne General,” says Leif Pedersen, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy at Memorial. “One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Terrebonne General Foundation for distribution to its staff as they rebuild and recover. No administrative expense will be deducted so that all of the donations is maximized and completely available to the people and families needing it most.”

Several days into the campaign, Memorial was contacted by CMR Roofing & Construction to partner in bringing even more proceeds to the campaign. CMR specializes in storm damage recovery, and its team was already on the ground witnessing the catastrophe and providing assistance in the tri-Parish area served by Terrebonne General.

“Rebuilding communities is at the heart of our company. We had to find a way to help and we got creative with everyone involved,” says CMR CEO Steve Soule. “We have a number of ongoing sponsorships – in NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA and Powerboat P1 – and we are engaging these platforms to reach our loyal fans and business network to raise funds for those in need.”

For example, one sponsorship involves San Diego-based Compass Racing, which will be racing live on NBCSN at 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Acura Long Beach Grand Prix. The car, piloted by Matt McMurry and Mario Farnbacher, will feature relief fund messaging, and the team will raise funds with the assistance of Acura before, during and after the race.

The hope is others, through this Go Fund Me initiative, will join these companies and teams to grow the fund and positive impact for the many employees at Terrebonne General in their struggle to rebound from Hurricane Ida’s wrath.

For those who want to give, but not online, gifts should be made payable to 501(c)3 non-profit Lake Charles Memorial Health System Foundation, c/o Leif Pedersen, Senior VP of Philanthropy, 1701 Oak Park Blvd., Lake Charles, LA 70601 or call (337) 494-3226. gofundme.com/f/terrebonne-hospital-employee-relief-fund

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From The Foundation Your Donations At Work “We would like to thank the Foundation for providing the electrical stimulation machine to the Inpatient Rehabilitation Speech Department. We utilize this machine to work on the muscles of the face and neck to treat oral and pharyngeal phase dysphagia. The ability to eat and drink is vital to a patient’s recovery from stroke and other diseases.

Most family functions revolve around food and drink and this purchase will help us treat these patients and help them return to their daily lives. Thank you again for your gift to our patients!”

Brittany Corbello, speech language pathologist, treats a patient with the electrical stimulation machine in Inpatient Rehab.

Inpatient Rehabilitation

Taste and Pour held this summer raised more than $25,000 that will go into our Cancer Fund.

Thank you to everyone who came and donated to this great event.

For more information on how you can help The Foundation at Lake Charles Memorial, go to www.lcmh.com/giving or call 337.494.3226.

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Medications Delivered to Patient Rooms Before Leaving the Hospital Lake Charles Memorial Medical Plaza Pharmacy can fill all of your discharge medications and deliver them directly to your bedside before you leave the hospital, saving you and your family a time-consuming trip before you arrive home. Prescriptions can also be picked up in the pharmacy, if preferred.

BENEFITS OF THE MEDS TO BEDS PROGRAM

HOW IT WORKS Getting Started

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Provided at no extra charge to all of our patients.

Our pharmacists will resolve all medication-related issues with your healthcare provider before you leave the hospital.

The pharmacy accepts virtually all prescription insurance plans and can inform you of any required co-payments.

The pharmacy will work cooperatively with your medical provider to help lower your costs by recommending less expensive alternatives for costly medications.

The pharmacy will carry the over-the-counter medications your medical provider recommends.

The pharmacy accepts cash, debit and credit cards, and checks. Unfortunately, we cannot add to your hospital bill.

The pharmacy can continue to provide your refills to you even after you’ve been discharged, or you can have them transferred to your regular pharmacy for future refills.

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Inform your nurse of your interest in participating in the Meds to Beds program.

The retail pharmacy will be notified that you will be participating.

Your discharge prescriptions will be routed directly to the retail pharmacy.

We will bill your prescription drug insurance company if applicable.

You will be responsible for paying for the co-payment charge.

Payment for the prescription(s) must be paid at the time of the bedside delivery.

Our pharmacist will provide a consultation on your prescription medications if requested

Please let your nurse know you would like to participate in this service.

NOTICE This is an optional program and offered for your convenience.

Patients have the right to choose any pharmacy for their prescription services.

Pay the same price (co-pay) with insurance as your current pharmacy No extra trip to the pharmacy • No waiting in lines for your prescriptions 6

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How do you handle prescriptions that require a Prior Authorization from my insurance company?

Our hospital staff will call your insurance company while you are at the hospital to attempt to get approval for your medication or will ask your physician to prescribe an equivalent alternative.

RETAIL PHARMACY HOURS Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday - Sunday | Closed

If my prescription has a refill, do I have to come back to the hospital to get it filled?

No, we would be happy to fill your prescriptions here. If you would like to have your prescription transferred, have your pharmacy contact us.

BEDSIDE DELIVERY HOURS Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Will I be notified of the cost of my medications?

Yes, we will notify you of the cost before we fill the medication and bring it to your room.

Can prescriptions be billed or added to my hospital bill?

No, prescriptions filled by the Bedside Delivery program are considered an outpatient pharmacy service and cannot be added to your inpatient hospital bill.

LOCATION Medical Office Building II 1717 Oak Park Boulevard Lake Charles, LA 70601 PHONE: 337.494.2990 FAX: 337.494.2550

Do you accept my prescription insurance plan?

We accept most prescription insurance plans. Prescriptions are directly billed to your insurance providers. You are responsible for any co-payments from your insurance coverage. Co-payments must be paid for when you receive your prescription(s).

What if I forgot to bring my prescription insurance card to the hospital?

LCMH Pharmacy will gladly call your current pharmacy and obtain prescription insurance information.

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PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

Unique Women.

Unique Healthcare.

Every woman is different. Every phase of life is special. Cookie-cutter healthcare is not an option. Ask women what kind of healthcare they want and here’s what they say. “a hospital that’s all about women and babies” “a birth experience that centers on me and my baby” “answers about my baby’s health before they become questions” “a hospital with newborn critical care” “helps me understand if I am genetically at-risk for breast cancer” “doctors and nurses who put my baby’s safety, not convenience, first” “a center of excellence specifically for women’s surgical needs” “diagnostics for breast and bone health all in one place” “a breast surgeon who understands the impact of breast cancer for a woman” “a hospital that doesn’t feel like a hospital” “healthcare that keeps me wellthy (well + healthy)”

You’ll find this and more at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women.

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Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women recently completed an $8.6 million expansion project. As the leader in women’s and childbirth services and the only hospital in Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana with a specific facility dedicated to women’s health needs, Memorial for Women added a new 15,410 sq. ft. wing to meet the rising demand for women’s services in our community and offering unique women’s healthcare for every phase of a woman’s life.

Alesha Alford, RN, Vice President/Administrator Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women

Memorial for Women offers modern amenities for mothers-to-be, spacious birthing suites and a calming atmosphere with gardens and waterfalls nestled in a tranquil setting. As a part of Lake Charles Memorial Health System, the largest healthcare provider in Southwest Louisiana, it is supported by a comprehensive scope of acute care services, as well as those dedicated specifically to the health and well-being of women. Add to that the skilled nurses and expert physicians who come from the best medical schools nationwide, and it is no wonder why more expectant moms choose Memorial for Women for their birth experience.

The newly expanded and renovated Memorial for Women, increased from 38 to 52-beds in our Family Birth and Family Surgery Centers. Birthing suites provide patient-focused nursing care and the entire delivery process in one familycentered place with a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for premature babies with critical newborn care needs.

Located at the corner of Nelson and Gauthier Roads, the hospital offers prenatal programs, genetics education and testing, 3D mammography, bone density, 128-slice CT scanner and lab services.

The Family Surgery Center has expanded from 4 to 6 operating and procedure rooms providing minimally invasive surgeries such as hysterectomies, gynecology procedures, and general surgery. Memorial for Women is the only women’s hospital in Louisiana to be recognized as a Center of Excellence by the American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery.

As the first infant safe sleep certified hospital in Louisiana, our women’s hospital has demonstrated a commitment to community leadership for best practices and education on infant safe sleep through the development of a hospital policy, staff training, parent education, implementing a wearable blanket program, providing a safe sleep space to at risk families and a pledge to participate in ongoing audits and community outreach programs. Memorial for Women is a designated facility for The Gift, an evidence-based hospital designation program designed to increase breastfeeding rates and hospital success by improving the quality of maternity services and enhancing patient-centered care.

Check out the all new website. www.lcmh.com/womens

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Physician Spotlight Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man Meet Family Medicine Specialists Ben Groves, DO, and Kira Groves, DO.

The pair met on a medical mission trip to Honduras while attending William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, MS. That is when the long distance relationship began.

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In 1973, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn took an up-tempo Cajun sound country song to the top of the Billboard country music charts. The song details the long-distance relationship a couple faces to keep their love going. It’s a tune that relates somewhat to the lives of Memorial Medical Group Family Medicine Specialists Ben Groves, DO and Kira Groves, DO. Ben is from Mississippi and Kira is from Louisiana, more specifically Lake Charles. Today, they share an office, practice medicine together and raise a family. The pair met on a medical mission trip to Honduras while attending William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. That is when the long-distance relationship began.

“I was three years ahead of her in school. After getting my doctor of osteopathic medicine I headed off to Virginia for my family medicine residency,” Ben recalls. “We got married while Kira was still in medical school, and would travel to see each other as much as we could.”

After Kira graduated with her doctor of osteopathic medicine, she joined Ben in Virginia to start her family medicine residency. Before beginning that three-year journey, the couple welcomed their first child. Ben would stay on with the residency program as part of the faculty.

“You could say we had a lot going on during that time; getting married, residencies, starting a family,” Kira says. “We had great support from our families, and prioritized our family and relationship.”

That meant date nights were usually intertwined with hitting the books. Flexing their life and schedules around working different shifts and all hours of a day, which is typical when going through a residency program.

The crazy life and schedule comes with understanding with both Ben and Kira being doctors. It provides insight as to why things can get crazy from time to time, and the demands medicine can have.

“No matter what your profession is, patience and understanding go a long way in a marriage,” Ben says. “Every job out there has demands and as long as you are on the same page as a couple, you can make it work.”

After residency was completed the couple set their sights on Kira’s hometown of Lake Charles. Ben will admit he didn’t know anything about boudin before moving here, but that the people are similar to his childhood home in north Mississippi.

Ben is also a soon-to-be Major in the National Guard. He has served since 2007 first in Mississippi’s National Guard, then North Carolina and now Louisiana. His service has even taken him to Kuwait.

Today, the two docs are building a family medicine practice just a stone’s throw from Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Treating patients of all ages and providing care across the whole spectrum of medicine. While they don’t treat patients together, they are able to bounce ideas off of each other when faced with various treatment options. However, when it comes to their own children’s health, they leave that up to their very capable pediatrician.

“The Children’s Clinic does a great job,” Kira says. “I was horrified when our baby got her first fever at 6-months, and she ended up being fine. So, we try not to doctor each other or the children. It’s hard to be objective with your own family.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ben Groves or Dr. Kira Groves, call 337.480.8900 or visit www.lcmh.com/doctors.

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Keeping the Passion Alive

Just because your body is aging, doesn’t mean that your sexual health should be ignored. Your body changes as you age, but what shouldn’t change is that people deserve to be sexually healthy and enjoy their sex life as much as they can.

In fact, issues with your sexual health can be a sign or symptom of a greater problem that should be addressed with a physician.

Memorial Medical Group Family Medicine Specialists Ben Groves, DO, and Kira Groves, DO, have provided a few areas to keep in mind if you are experiencing a decrease in sexual desire or function as you get older:

Post-menopausal women: The natural cycle for women eventually leads to menopause. This means a woman’s body decreases in estrogen and progesterone production. Fertility ceases, and this may or may not lead to a decrease in sex drive. It does, however, over time lead to thinning and dryness in the vaginal tissues. This can cause pain or difficulty enjoying sex. This is treatable with lubricants and pelvic physical therapy.

Chronic pain: Chronic pain of any kind can decrease energy and sex drive. Side effects from medications for chronic pain may be impacting your sex drive, as well. Other medications can be added to deal with those side effects, but the goal is not to decrease the quality of life. A doctor can put together a good holistic plan to treat your pain and improve your sexual health.

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After cancer or cancer treatment: The overall cancer journey can impact your sex life and intimacy with your partner. The mental load and symptoms from cancer and treatment can temporarily decrease your desire for sex. In some cases you may regain your desire for sex after the treatment is over.

In other situations, medications or additional treatments may be needed to return to normal. For men and women, treatments such as radiation can greatly impact nerve endings. Scar tissue can form in the vagina for women.

Therapy is available to regain nerve function and improve sexual function. For women there are tools available to help dilate the vaginal region and regain sexual function, especially after radiation treatments to the pelvic or abdomen regions. All cancer patients may benefit from medical or psychological therapy to help with any personal issues with body image and confidence.

Heart disease: Disease in your heart means that you probably have disease in other parts of your vascular system. A major component of sexual function is blood flow, and if the blood flow is poor in the genital areas sexual function and enjoyment may be difficult. Treating cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease can help with sexual function as you age.

Diabetes: Neuropathy causes nerve damage in all areas of the body, not just in your feet. By the time this begins nerve functions are not usually able to come back after being lost. Treating your diabetes properly can prevent this affecting your sexual function as you age.

Depression: In the older population, depression seems to go unnoticed and untreated. Lack of sexual function may be one of the signs of depression. Lack of desire in regular daily activities, fatigue, and inability to sleep is not necessarily normal.

When depression is treated, desire for sex may come back.

As you age, your sexual function may not look like it did in your 20s, but it can still be fulfilling. Begin talking to your doctor about how you can improve your sexual wellness and continue to live your life to the fullest.

Drs. Ben and Kira Groves are accepting new patients, and same day appointments at 2750 Aster Street in Lake Charles.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 337.480.8900.

Ben Groves, DO

Kira Groves, DO 13

welcome new doctors Taylor Clements, MD Internal Medicine Taylor Clements, MD, is an internal medicine physician. Dr. Clements joins fellow internal medicine doctors Craig Broussard, MD, Brian Clements, MD, Craig Greenman, MD, Edward Hebert, MD, Gerry Hebert, MD, Susan Ieyoub, MD and Jason Langhofer, DO at the Memorial medical office building on Nelson Road.

Dr. Clements is a native of Lake Charles having previously worked in the Memorial Hospital emergency department as a technician. He has a degree in biological sciences from the University of New Orleans. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. His postgraduate training includes a three-year internal medicine residency at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas, which is a part of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.

In conjunction with his internal medicine residency, Dr. Clements completed a two-year lifestyle medicine residency program through the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine to become a certified lifestyle medical professional. This certification focuses on treating the root cause of lifestyle-related diseases, which happen to be most of the morbidity and mortality-causing problems afflicting Americans today. It’s a well-studied and evidence-based practice. In addition to using medications and procedures to help patients, Dr. Clements has additional training in addressing root causes of disease through wellness like nutrition, physical activity, sleep, substance use and stress management. Dr. Clements is a member of the American Medical Association and American College of Physicians.

Accepting new patients at 4345 Nelson Road, Suite 201, Lake Charles, LA 70605. 337.494.6800. www.lcmh.com

Andrew Wright, MD Anesthesiologist Andrew Wright, MD, is an anesthesiologist. He joins fellow anesthesiologists David Bracho, DO, Elise Lofton, MD, Nate Marshall, MD, Kyle Nester, MD, Kristie Osteen, MD, and Richard Roe, MD serving the patients of the Lake Charles Memorial Health System.

Dr. Wright is a native of Lake Charles. He has a degree in biochemistry from Louisiana State University, where he was also played football under Nick Saban and Les Miles from 2003 to 2006. He received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. His post-graduate training includes an orthopedic residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, a preliminary general surgery internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock and an anesthesiology residency also at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.

Dr. Wright previously worked at the Memorial Hospital emergency department as a scribe and technician. He is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Arkansas Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Medical Association.

PHYSICIAN REFERRAL • 1-800-494-LCMH (5264)

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James Jackson, DO Orthopedic Surgery/Sports Medicine James Jackson, DO, is an orthopedic surgeon who is fellowship-trained in sports medicine. He joins fellow orthopedic surgeons Jeffery Balazsy, MD, Nathan Cohen, MD, Kipp Cryar, MD, Alan Hinton, MD and Matthew McCarley, MD. Dr. Jackson joins the Lake Charles Memorial healthcare team after recently completing his Orthopedic Sports Fellowship at Houston Methodist. During his fellowship he obtained advanced surgical training in cartilage restoration including MACI and osteochondral allografts with and without osteotomies, meniscal repair, knee ligament reconstruction, shoulder stabilization procedures including labral repair and Latarjet, elbow surgery including Tommy John and UCL repair with internal brace, total shoulder arthroplasty with 3D planning, arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs with and without patch augmentation, and other advanced arthroscopic techniques of the knee, shoulder, and elbow.

While in Houston he also had the opportunity to be a part of the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, and NASA Astronaut Corp medical team. As part of the Astros medical team, he was part of the first ever MLB combine where he assisted in the evaluation of future draft picks. He served as the head team physician for Manvel High School (Division 5A), and as assistant team physician for Rice University.

Prior to fellowship, Dr. Jackson obtained his Bachelor of Science and medical degree from the University of Florida and Nova SE University, respectively. After graduating from medical school, he completed his orthopedic residency training in Dayton, Ohio. During this time he was trained in the anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty. He also obtained a thorough trauma training in level 1 trauma facilities in Indianapolis, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio. Upon completion of residency, he was selected as the Orthopaedic Resident of the Year by the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics and American Osteopathic Foundation.

Accepting new patients at 4345 Nelson Road, Suite 102, Lake Charles, LA 70605. 337.494.4900. www.lcmh.com

Christine Dugan, DO Hospitalist Christine Dugan, DO, is a board-certified internal medicine physician. She serves as a hospitalist, treating the patients admitted to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Dugan has a degree in physics from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She has a Master of Science degree from Rutgers University, and a PhD in biological sciences from Michigan State University. She received her doctor of osteopathic medicine from Michigan State University. Her postgraduate training includes an internal medicine residency at the Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.

Before coming to Memoria, Dr. Dugan worked as a hospitalist at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, and served as a clinical professor at the Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine. She is a member of the Society of Hospital Medicine, American Medical Association and American College of Physicians.

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You’re Having a Baby!

OB Care Loves Babies!

OB CARE, A FULL-SERVICE OBSTETRICS CLINIC, WANTS YOU TO HAVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCE REGARDLESS OF YOUR FINANCIAL SITUTATION. OB Care, a part of the Lake Charles Memorial Health System, has taken care of new moms in southwest Louisiana for over 20 years.

Care, not cost, should be your focus. That’s why OB Care accepts private insurance, Medicaid, or self-pay, working with expectant moms to develop an affordable payment plan. OB Care surrounds you with compassionate, certified o.b. specialists to guide you through your pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum journey.

ROUTINE PRENATAL AND POST-DELIVERY CARE • HIGH RISK PREGNANCY CARE FETAL MONITORING • PRENATAL, BREASTFEEDING, AND CHILDBIRTH CLASSES

ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS MONDAY – FRIDAY • 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM 760 BAYOU PINES EAST 337-562-0510

www.lcmh.com/obcare #obcarelovesbabies

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Currently, our classes and support groups are on hold due to COVID-19. Please call the contacts listed to get the most up-to-date information on scheduling the classes.

Prenatal and Family Education Classes Registration is required for all classes. For more information or to register, call 337.480.7243. All classes are held in the education rooms at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women, 1890 W. Gauthier Road. Tours are available after all prenatal classes and at 1:30pm on the first Thursday of each month.

ONE DAY PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASS Learn comfort, relaxation, positioning, breathing, and massage

BABY CARE CLASS The Baby Care Class reviews newborn characteristics, general

techniques for increasing the comfort level and enhancing the birth experience during this condensed version of the Prepared

baby care, early parenting issues and community resources.

Recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy.

Childbirth Series. Recommended for the last 3 months of pregnancy.

September 18 • November 13 3-4:30pm • $10/Couple

September 18 • October 16 • November 13 8:30-11:30am • $20/Couple INFANT AND CHILD CPR CLASS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS Learn and practice rescue for choking and CPR for infants. This BREASTFEEDING CLASS Learn positioning, latch-on, early feedings and the importance of assessing baby’s intake during the Breastfeeding Class.

is NOT a certifying or credentialing course, but is recommended for expectant parents, new parents and support persons.

September 29 • November 17

Recommended during the last 3 months of pregnancy.

5:30-7:30pm • $10/Person

September 18 • October 16 • November 13 12:30-2:30pm • $10/Couple SAFE SITTER The best sitter is a safe sitter! The Safe Sitter® Class is designed for boys and girls ages 11 to 13. Sitters learn safety tips for when they are home alone or working with children, how to recognize a medical emergency, how to perform choking rescue or CPR for children and babies, and how to have fun entertaining children.

Call for future dates 8:30am - 3:30pm | $40/Sitter

SIBLING CLASS This class is recommended during the last three months of pregnancy. Preparing siblings for the arrival of a new baby can be as confusing as it is joyous. This class focuses on the unity of the family. Older siblings ages 2-10 are asked to attend with one or both parents. The children will have hands-on practice with dolls to learn how to interact with a new baby. Parents will receive informative guidelines and everyone will tour the mother/baby unit.

October 16 3:00-4:00pm • $10/Family 17

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQs Should I trust a vaccine that was produced so quickly?

Yes, this rigorous and safe method of vaccine development and approval has been in use for almost two decades. Additionally, because COVID-19 is so contagious and widespread, it did not take long to see if the vaccine worked for the study volunteers who were vaccinated. More than 4.1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given globally, and almost 350 million have been given in the U.S.

Are there any side effects I can expect from the vaccine?

Like the flu shot, the vaccine is administered into a large muscle in the upper arm. As is the case with any vaccine, allergic reactions may occur. Some may experience mild fever, soreness, muscle aches, headaches, chills, fatigue/tiredness, muscle or joint pain, redness and/or swelling at the injection site. These are signs of an immune response to the vaccine and expected in some patients.

If you have pain or discomfort, you can take your normal pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You can apply a clean, cool compress over the injection site if needed. Remember to drink plenty of fluids.

We know there is a small risk of side effects associated with all vaccines, but the side effects are often less serious than the diseases themselves.

Does the vaccine alter my DNA? Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. Once those instructions are transcribed, both the mRNA and viral vector vaccines degrade rapidly in your body.

The mRNA does not enter the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept. The viral vectors used in COVID-19 vaccines are non-replicating and don’t have the machinery to insert its DNA into our cellular DNA. Both types of vaccines get broken down by your body’s cells and are gone within a few days.

Can I get COVID-19 from the vaccine?

None of the vaccines being used in the U.S. contain a live virus, and therefore, they cannot infect anyone with COVID-19. Vaccinated individuals may experience mild, temporary side effects, but this is an indication of the immune response to the vaccination, not COVID-19.

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Can I still be infected with COVID-19 after being vaccinated?

Yes, as no vaccine is 100% effective, but you still have less of a chance of contracting COVID-19. Experts have always known there will be a small percentage of fully vaccinated people who still get sick from COVID-19. CDC Research shows vaccine effectiveness was 91% before the dominance of the delta variant, and it has since dropped to 66%. The flu shot effectiveness typically ranges anywhere from 40% to 60%.

Why should I get the vaccine if I can still contract COVID-19 after being vaccinated?

According to the CDC, unvaccinated people were more than 29 times more likely to be hospitalized than vaccinated people, and about five times more likely to be infected. At Lake Charles Memorial, around 90% of our hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients.

Do the vaccines pose any threat to fertility?

There is no evidence that female or male fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not affect the fertility of women who are seeking to become pregnant, including through in vitro fertilization methods. While pregnant women were excluded from the initial Pfizer vaccine trial, 23 women in the trial became pregnant after receiving the vaccine and delivered healthy babies..

Do the vaccines pose any threat to pregnant women?

Pregnant and recently pregnant women are at an increased risk for severe illness, including preterm birth, from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all eligible persons, including pregnant and lactating individuals, receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine will not affect the protein involved in the growth and attachment of the placenta during pregnancy. The COVID-19 vaccine encourages the body to create copies of the spike protein found on the coronavirus’s surface and “teaches” the body’s immune system to fight the virus that has that specific spike protein on it. The spike proteins targeted by the vaccines are completely different than the protein associated with placental growth and attachment.

Is there any health reason why I shouldn’t get the vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccination may not be for everyone. If you have any concerns about its impact on any underlying health conditions you may have, we highly encourage you to talk to your primary care physician or specialist. *Information was provided by the CDC, LDH and Ochsner Health.

COVID-19 Vaccines are available in the Memorial Hospital Atrium Monday-Friday. No appointment necessary.

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1701 Oak Park Blvd.

Lake Charles, LA 70601

Memorial Medical Milestones Matt Felder Director of Communications This is a publication from Lake Charles Memorial Health System. The information in this newsletter is intended to inform patients and potential patients about subjects pertinent to their care, not as medical education. © 2021 Printed in U.S.A.

new gastroenterology location

Sarpreet Basra, MD

Khaled Nour, MD

Eric Fontenot, MD

Frank Marrero, MD

Memorial Medical Group Gastroenterology has a new location on the Memorial Hospital campus.

Sarpreet Basra, MD & Khaled Nour, MD

Eric Fontenot, MD & Frank Marrero, MD

Medical Office Building II, 3rd Floor

Medical Office Building II, 3rd Floor

2770 3rd Avenue

2770 3rd Avenue

Suite 345A

Suite 345B

Lake Charles, LA 70601

Lake Charles, LA 70601